What time is São Paulo F1 GP qualifying in the UK and US? Saturday start times
Qualifying for the 2026 São Paulo Grand Prix begins at 6pm GMT in the United Kingdom and 1pm EST in the eastern United States on Saturday, November 7. Here are the start times across North America, the qualifying format and where to watch the battle for pole position at Interlagos.
News Summary
- São Paulo Grand Prix qualifying starts at 6pm GMT in the UK and 1pm EST in the eastern US on Saturday, November 7.
- Canadian fans in Toronto and Montreal can watch at 1pm EST, while the session begins at 10am PST on the US and Canadian West Coast.
- The 2026 Brazilian event uses the traditional Q1, Q2 and Q3 qualifying format, with no sprint race scheduled this weekend.
Formula 1 returns to Interlagos for the 2026 São Paulo Grand Prix, with Saturday’s qualifying session set to begin at 6pm in the United Kingdom and 1pm in New York, Miami and Toronto. The session will determine the provisional starting grid for Sunday’s race, as newly crowned world champion Andrea Kimi Antonelli faces renewed competition from Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton and the rest of the field.
The event follows the conventional Grand Prix weekend format, meaning drivers will have three practice sessions before the battle for pole position begins on Saturday, November 7.
What time is São Paulo GP qualifying in the UK and US?
Qualifying begins at 3pm local time in São Paulo, Brazil, equivalent to 6pm GMT and 1pm EST.
The United Kingdom returned to Greenwich Mean Time in late October, while most of the United States and Canada switched to standard time on November 1.
São Paulo F1 qualifying — Saturday, November 7
| Country / city | Time zone | Qualifying start |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom — London | GMT | 6:00pm |
| Ireland — Dublin | GMT | 6:00pm |
| United States — New York / Miami | EST | 1:00pm |
| United States — Chicago / Dallas | CST | 12:00pm |
| United States — Denver | MST | 11:00am |
| United States — Los Angeles | PST | 10:00am |
| Canada — Toronto / Montreal | EST | 1:00pm |
| Canada — Calgary | MST | 11:00am |
| Canada — Vancouver | PST | 10:00am |
| Brazil — São Paulo | BRT | 3:00pm |
All times refer to Saturday, November 7, 2026. Local exceptions to daylight saving arrangements may apply.
What time is São Paulo GP qualifying in India, Australia and New Zealand?
For fans in Asia and Oceania, the session takes place late on Saturday or early on Sunday.
| Country / city | Local date | Qualifying start |
|---|---|---|
| India — New Delhi / Mumbai | Saturday, Nov 7 | 11:30pm IST |
| Australia — Sydney / Melbourne | Sunday, Nov 8 | 5:00am AEDT |
| Australia — Brisbane | Sunday, Nov 8 | 4:00am AEST |
| Australia — Perth | Sunday, Nov 8 | 2:00am AWST |
| New Zealand — Auckland / Wellington | Sunday, Nov 8 | 7:00am NZDT |
Indian fans will be able to follow the session late on Saturday night, while Australian and New Zealand viewers will need to tune in early on Sunday morning.
The complete international São Paulo Grand Prix timetable includes the practice sessions and Sunday’s race.
Where can fans watch São Paulo F1 qualifying in the UK?
Sky Sports F1 will broadcast the qualifying session live in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
The broadcaster’s Saturday schedule includes:
| Programme | UK time (GMT) |
|---|---|
| Free Practice 3 coverage | 2:15pm |
| FP3 session starts | 2:30pm |
| Qualifying build-up | 5:00pm |
| Qualifying begins | 6:00pm |
| Ted’s Qualifying Notebook | 8:00pm |
Sky subscribers can watch through Sky Sports F1 and supported Sky Sports streaming services. Eligible viewers without a Sky subscription can use NOW.
Channel 4 also provides Formula 1 highlights in the UK, subject to its published broadcast schedule.
How can fans watch qualifying in the US and Canada?
In the United States, Apple TV holds the Formula 1 broadcasting rights for the 2026 season.
Subscribers can follow qualifying through the service, with availability and subscription conditions determined by Apple.
The session begins at 1pm Eastern, noon Central, 11am Mountain and 10am Pacific.
In Canada, Formula 1 coverage is available through TSN and RDS, with English- and French-language options respectively. Streaming access depends on the viewer’s subscription and provider.
Fans should check their local platform listings for pre-session coverage and replays.
How does qualifying work at the São Paulo Grand Prix?
The 2026 Formula 1 qualifying format features three elimination sessions.
With 22 drivers on the grid, six are eliminated in Q1 and another six in Q2, leaving ten to compete for pole position in Q3.
| Session | Duration | Drivers advancing |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 18 minutes | Fastest 16 advance |
| Q2 | 15 minutes | Fastest 10 advance |
| Q3 | 13 minutes | Determines top 10 qualifying order |
The results establish the provisional starting grid. Any subsequent penalties or decisions by the stewards may alter the final order.
Unlike recent editions of the São Paulo Grand Prix, there will be no sprint race in 2026.
Who could take pole position at Interlagos?
Mercedes arrives in Brazil after Andrea Kimi Antonelli secured the Drivers’ World Championship at the Mexican Grand Prix.
The Italian will compete for the first time as world champion, but the competitive order has become less predictable as the season has progressed.
Hamilton secured pole position in Mexico, while Verstappen went on to win the race. Ferrari and Red Bull have both demonstrated improved competitiveness, putting pressure on Mercedes.
McLaren is also planning further developments for the Brazilian round, hoping to recover performance after a difficult campaign.
The team has confirmed upgrades across São Paulo and Las Vegas.
Interlagos presents a different challenge from Mexico, with elevation changes, heavy braking zones and a technical middle sector.
The circuit guide explains the main overtaking opportunities and setup challenges.
Rain could also influence qualifying, with early forecasts indicating unsettled conditions around Saturday afternoon.
The latest São Paulo GP weather outlook explains the possibility of showers and thunderstorms.
When is the São Paulo Grand Prix race?
The race takes place on Sunday, November 8, starting at 2pm local time in Brazil.
That corresponds to 5pm GMT in the UK, noon EST in the eastern United States and 9am PST on the West Coast.
Indian viewers can watch at 10:30pm IST on Sunday, while fans in Sydney and Melbourne will see the race at 4am AEDT on Monday, November 9.
The São Paulo Grand Prix weekend guide provides the complete schedule.
GRANDE PRÊMIO is following every session of the São Paulo Grand Prix this weekend, with breaking news, full coverage and real-time updates in its Formula 1 section.
